I’m not a very good skier. Most of the time I hang around with the children on the kids’ slopes – does it really matter that my skis are a few years old?
- This is a common misconception. Think about it this way: You are spending quite a lot of money on your skiing holiday; wouldn’t you like to make the most of your week of skiing? Personally I always enjoy enthralling someone by making them try a pair of new skis. A pair of good skis really does wonders for your skiing. Try it and you will understand what I mean!
- But even if the joy of skiing is important there is also a safety aspect why you should use relatively new equipment. Old skis could actually be dangerous. There is a risk that the spring in the binding has been left idle for too long and either releases prematurely or not at all. Both scenarios can end in disaster. You can rest assured that it would not release on flat ground when you are queuing for the lift but more likely in the most aggressive turn of the week. And just because the bindings released properly previously it doesn’t come natural that they will do so the next time. In other words, hiring a pair of new skis is a very affordable insurance.
I have a pair of skis in my garage. How do I know if they will work another season?
- The most important thing to check is the bindings. But it may be difficult to see if they are all right so ask a pro to have a look. While doing this, also check the DIN setting of the binding, based on height, weight, sole length etc. Many people think they have set them correctly but we notice many mistakes. And be honest! This is hardly the time to lie about your weight…
- You should also check the steel edges of the skis and the base. If the edges are rusty or dull they need to be sharpened. If you see deep scratches and even holes in the base they must be fixed straight away. If you ski for a couple of days on a ski with a deep scratch, humidity may reach the wood core and if so, the skis are ruined forever.
Which is the smarter, hiring or buying my own skis?
- You are the only one who can decide that. Say, if you ski but one week per year there are several reasons in favour of hiring the equipment. You won’t have to worry about servicing the gear and you are always guaranteed good stuff. The rental is also reasonable! A pair of skis that costs around 10 000-12 000 SEK are yours for a week against a rental of around 1 000 SEK. This would mean you would have to ski ten weeks to reach the same cost. In case you happen to fall in love with this pair you can usually buy them at a reasonable price. I think generally one should never buy a pair of skis without having tried them.
I have found a pair of used skis on the Internet. How do I know if they are second-hand or only fit for firewood?
- It’s difficult. Remember that you always buy the base of a pair of skis. The important thing to check is the base. The fact that the skis are quite new is never a guarantee that they are in good shape, but your chances of a good deal improve compared to buying a pair of older skis. If you are keen on buying a pair of used skis the smartest place is from a ski hire. That way you can inspect the skis on site and you will be sure that they have been properly serviced. And when you buy second-hand skis, always ask a pro to check the DIN settings.